Land Rover Range Rover review

Overview

This review is for the full-size L405 Range Rover after its 2018 model-year facelift, with the 258 PS TDV6 diesel, Vogue trim and the shorter of the two wheelbases. It does not cover the later 275 PS SDV6, long-wheelbase editions or the plug-in hybrid. That distinction matters because more than one derivative can carry a 2018 registration. The case for the entry diesel is that it delivers the calm driving position and substantial cabin without buying a V8 merely for the badge. The case against is simple: a low purchase price does not make complex luxury hardware cheap to fix. Condition and local specialist support should govern the decision.

Exterior and interior

The facelift modernised the lights and dashboard without changing the upright shape or the tall windows that make this model feel distinct from the Sport. The standard-wheelbase body is still five metres long. Step into the actual car to judge access; the high seat can suit some drivers and frustrate others. The Vogue's seats and surfaces provide much of the expensive feel without the extra trim of an Autobiography. In used examples, look closely at bolsters, door seals and the headlining for damage or damp. Test the seat movement, any fitted roof and the controls from the driving position rather than valuing optional finishes you may rarely use.

Practicality

Five seats and the broad split tailgate are the useful combination here. The lower section gives a perch when stationary, but it also puts a heavy object farther from you as you lift it in. The period brochure gives approximately 1.10 metres of floor length behind row two and 1.12 metres between the wheel arches; we do not claim a litre comparison based on those dimensions. If you need a dog crate or mobility equipment, measure the aperture and bring the item if possible. Allow for the extra space needed behind the car for the tailgate, and do not assume the long-wheelbase model offers this car's dimensions.

Driving experience

The TDV6 Vogue makes most sense driven with a steady pace. The air suspension and isolation encourage long stints rather than quick changes of direction. The body can move more after an abrupt steering input than in a Range Rover Sport or a road-biased premium SUV. Drive over a sharp-edged repair, a motorway expansion joint and a rough residential road to learn how the specific tyres and suspension behave. Try manoeuvring in a bay the size you use at home, not only in a dealer's open yard. A thump, hesitation or steering pull is a reason to investigate, not an inevitable trait of an older luxury car.

Performance

Land Rover's brochure gives this V6 258 PS, approximately 254 bhp, and 600 Nm. An eight-speed automatic sends drive to all four wheels. The factory 0–100 km/h figure is 8.0 seconds, roughly 0–62 mph, not the separate 0–60 convention. The useful performance is its ability to gather pace with people and luggage aboard, not to reproduce an acceleration run. If a seller claims the newer SDV6 output or a remap, verify the build and inform the insurer where applicable. For towing, use the plated capacities and actual vehicle and trailer weights. The brochure's headline rating is not a licence to use every available payload simultaneously.

Fuel economy

The original brochure's 40.9 imperial mpg combined figure uses the period NEDC cycle. It is not the expectation for a 2.2-tonne-plus SUV in real traffic, and it should not be compared directly with a later WLTP number. Our ownership allowance uses 30 mpg purely as a planning assumption. At ten thousand miles a year, dropping from 30 to 26 mpg adds about £360 at £1.55 a litre. Use your mix of journeys, towing and cold starts to test whether the diesel makes sense. Check clean-air rules against the car's registration rather than relying on a model-level assumption about an entire generation.

Reliability

Buy the file of invoices as much as the car. Have a Land Rover specialist check the engine and cooling system, air suspension, battery health and stored fault codes; the consequences of a hidden problem can be disproportionate to the used purchase price. Verify timing-belt work and its due date from documentation, not a claimed full history. Test it cold and hot and check all fitted equipment, even when the seller says one warning is only a sensor. The inspection cannot rule out future failures. Our limited-confidence reliability assessment is an editorial view of exposure and documentation, not a dataset predicting which TDV6 will fail.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested an earlier L405 TDV6 Vogue at the generation's launch in 2012. Its five-star result belongs to the older protocol and that tested specification. No exact Euro NCAP assessment was verified for the 2018 facelift, so do not read the earlier result as a new test or compare the stars directly with current ones. The period equipment guide documents airbags, stability systems and driver assistance; confirm the specific equipment, warning lights and past windscreen or crash repair on the car. Use the government recall checker and ask Land Rover to confirm campaign work by VIN rather than relying on the annual MOT.

Technology and features

The 2018 update uses Touch Pro Duo with two central displays, separating main navigation and media functions from lower vehicle and climate controls. That looks neater than a bank of switches but the best test is whether you can change a setting without concentrating on the screen. Ask the seller to demonstrate startup, both displays, cameras and the audio after the vehicle has been parked. Check smartphone projection using your own cable and handset; connectivity may depend on hardware and software, and Bluetooth alone proves neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto. Likewise, ask whether a cruise system actually adapts to traffic, rather than assuming it from a steering-wheel control.

Running costs

Our November 2026 purchase band of £16,000–£29,000 is an illustrative planning estimate, not a valuation or a snapshot of classifieds. At ten thousand miles, an assumed 30 mpg and £1.55 a litre put fuel near £2,350. An illustrative £450 tax allowance and £1,150–£2,150 for service, MOT and wear bring the total to around £3,950–£4,950. Actual tax depends on registration and circumstances. Insurance, depreciation, finance and major repairs are excluded. Obtain a quote with any tracker or overnight parking requirements before committing. A recent independent service and a matching set of good tyres are worth evaluating against a lower sticker price.

Advantages and disadvantages